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Badjao, also known as “sea gypsies,” are indigenous people from the islands of Mindanao. They are known to have a rich maritime heritage. Historically, they have traversed the water of Sulu and lived nomadically. However, the long-running armed conflict in Mindanao has displaced them, forcing them to migrate to urban areas like Lucena City.
The case stemmed from a solidarity mission that was aimed to bring food and other essentials to Lumad students of the Salugpongan Ta’Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center Inc. (STTICLC) and the Community Technical College of Southeastern Mindanao (CTCSM) that are based in the hinterlands of Talaingod.
“While no words can truly console Kuni's family, we stand in unwavering solidarity with them and all Lumad people fighting for their children's right to education amidst escalating violence, militarization, and impunity in their ancestral lands,” said SOS Network, demanding justice for Kuni, his family, and all victims of Lumad killings.
“It is crucial to recognize the challenges faced by indigenous peoples. These include land rights issues, displacements from their ancestral domains due to mining activities, and militarization leading to armed conflicts and human rights violations,” the project rationale said.
"We knew from the start that this law would only be weaponized in silencing dissent. They try to make us falter; we, indigenous peoples and human rights defenders. But we will never deter."
“As we commemorate Indigenous Peoples Heroes Day, let's strengthen international solidarity with other Indigenous Peoples globally, acknowledging shared roots of our problems. We must carry forward the legacy of those who sacrificed for it. With so many lives given to the cause, we must intensify our calls for genuine liberation."
A human rights group assailed the possible promotion of a ranking police officer that spearheaded an operation that led to the killing of nine indigenous peoples in Panay back in 2020.
If put together as bits and parts of a large puzzle, all the repressions, oppressions, marginalizations and directed violations of Tumandok rights as indigenous people the picture amount to ethnocide. There exists a deliberate and systematic destruction of their life and culture as vulnerable people.
Will this gathering of world leaders finally heed the demands of environmental defenders for genuine and systemic solutions to the climate crisis? Will the world’s biggest polluter be finally made accountable?
While their reality seemed gloomy at the evacuation site, it was also where Salika Maguindanao co-founded the Maranao Collectible Service Cooperative, which has helped them preserve their tradition and provide a livelihood to those who lost their homes and livelihood to the Marawi Siege.
While it remains a seasonal livelihood, having a honey processing facility has helped honey hunters of Rizal a lot. Such development, however, is threatened by mega-projects like the Kaliwa Dam,
The dam projects in Apayao threaten to displace thousands of indigenous peoples, farmers and fisherfolk.
“If given the chance, I would like to speak with the Asian Development Bank, investors, and corporations to ask them why are they supporting the New Clark City project that brazenly violates our rights,” Chieftain Pet stated.
The Aytas in sitio Sapang Kawayan, barangay Ayanguren in Capas, Tarlac are defending their ancestral domain against the incursion of government agency and large corporations.
“We in UP hold Bai and all Lumad leaders in very high esteem – for her incredible strength and leadership, for standing for her advocacy and for defending her tribe. She’s very strong and vocal. There is no way we could silence Bai.”
A local court said that two Aeta farmers charged with terrorism were just running at the moment of their arrest, and thus, their warrantless arrest was unlawful.
The last four years for Lumad students like Inday and Toper seemed like a tug-of-war struggling for their right to learn, and fighting for their return to their ancestral lands.
“It hurts to see our school built on our unity as a community being shut down. It hurts that they are not respecting our rights.”
“They told me we wouldn’t be released unless we admit to being rebels.” -- Lumad teacher
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